Laurence Shames's guest appearances

Laurence Shames

CrimeFiction.FM

Shannon Esposito

Cheryl Bradshaw

Michelle Miller

Bryon Quertermous

Russell Blake

Joseph Badal

Paul Bishop

Taylor Stevens

David Putnam

Jeff Shelby

Hank Phillippi Ryan

Kori D. Miller

Lucy Burdette

Rebecca Forster

Mike Faricy

OwlTail

Author Laurence Shames is the guest in this episode of The Author Biz. In last week’s show, we discussed the process of producing an audiobook with a narrator. This week’s show begins with an expansion on the audio book production theme, but this time, we tackle the process from the author’s perspective. Our guest is Laurence Shames, who has been a New York City taxi driver, lounge singer, furniture mover, lifeguard, dishwasher, gym teacher, and shoe salesman. And as the bio on his website puts it, having failed to distinguish himself in any of those professions, he turned to writing full-time in 1976 and has not done an honest day’s work since. As authors, we know Larry’s bio is somewhat tongue in cheek. The less humorous reality is that he has published twenty books and hundreds of magazine articles and essays. He is best known for his critically acclaimed series of Key West novels, but he’s also written non-fiction and enjoyed considerable, though mostly secret success as a collaborator and ghostwriter, having authored four books that achieved bestseller status without including his name. His career, as you might imagine for someone with his long  background, began in traditional publishing. That changed in 2013 when he decided to re-enter the world of the working novelist as an Indie author. While traditionally published, his publishers had audiobooks produced for him for each of his Key West titles, but as an Indie author, he was on his own. In this 41 minute show, we discuss why he decided to have audiobooks produced for the Indie published books in his Key West series. Then we’ll dig into the process he went through to select and hire his narrator partner, and the internal challenges he faced in 2013 when transitioning from traditional to indie publishing. Laurence Shames Interview Show Notes We discuss the evolution of Larry’s writing career through a variety of large publishers, to ghostwriting, screenwriting and now as an indie author. Larry’s most recent book, KEY WEST LUCK, is his first indie book to be turned into an audiobook. We discuss the reasons why he decided to publish an audio version of the book. Larry felt like the time commitment for the audio project was reasonable. We discuss the process he went through to select his narrator, Jem Matson, who he views as a partner in the audiobook production process. We consider the two choices for paying an audiobook producer. Larry chose the Royalty Share option for KEY WEST LUCK and explains why. Like many authors who come from the traditional world, there were psychological hurdles to overcome before fully embracing indie publishing. Larry shares his thoughts on overcoming those barriers. Running his indie publishing business is much different than his experience in the traditional world. He explains some of those differences and how he’s learned to appreciate the control he now has over his creative work. We discuss Larry’s expectations for relaunching his Key West series with SHOT ON LOCATION, his first indie published book in 2013. Larry acquired the rights back to the first eight books in his series. He tells us how he regained those rights and what he needed to learn to republish them on his own. Larry publishes exclusively on Amazon now. He explains his reasons for making that decision. We consider the importance of learning indie publishing skills even if you’re traditionally published now. Larry answers the oft-asked question about ghostwriting. “What’s it like to know that you’ve written a wildly popular bestselling book and not be able to tell anyone that you were the one who wrote it? Links: Laurence Shames website www.laurenceshames.com Larry’s Amazon Author Page KEY WEST LUCK at Audible.Com Larry’s Narrator / Audiobook Producer Jem Matzan www.jemmatzan.com Thanks for Listening! Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see on the left of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for The Author Biz Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and mean a great deal to me. They matter in the rankings of the show, and I read every one of them. If you’re not sure how to leave an iTunes review, you can follow the step-by-step instructions here. And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes or Stitcher to get automatic updates. Thanks to Laurence Shames for joining us this week! Creative Commons Image by FitzFox The post TAB088: How to Eliminate Audiobook Anxiety with Laurence Shames appeared first on .

Author Laurence Shames is the guest in this episode of The Author Biz. In last week’s show, we discussed the process of producing an audiobook with a narrator. This week’s show begins with an expansion on the audio book production theme, but this time, we tackle the process from the author’s perspective. <a href="http://laurenceshames.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a>Our guest is <a href="http://www.laurenceshames.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Laurence Shames</a>, who has been a New York City taxi driver, lounge singer, furniture mover, lifeguard, dishwasher, gym teacher, and shoe salesman. And as the bio on his website puts it, having failed to distinguish himself in any of those professions, he turned to writing full-time in 1976 and has not done an honest day’s work since. As authors, we know Larry’s bio is somewhat tongue in cheek. The less humorous reality is that he has published twenty books and hundreds of magazine articles and essays. He is best known for his critically acclaimed series of Key West novels, but he’s also written non-fiction and enjoyed considerable, though mostly secret success as a collaborator and ghostwriter, having authored four books that achieved bestseller status without including his name. His career, as you might imagine for someone with his long  background, began in traditional publishing. That changed in 2013 when he decided to re-enter the world of the working novelist as an Indie author. While traditionally published, his publishers had audiobooks produced for him for each of his Key West titles, but as an Indie author, he was on his own. In this 41 minute show, we discuss why he decided to have audiobooks produced for the Indie published books in his Key West series. Then we’ll dig into the process he went through to select and hire his narrator partner, and the internal challenges he faced in 2013 when transitioning from traditional to indie publishing. <h3>Laurence Shames Interview Show Notes</h3> We discuss the evolution of Larry’s writing career through a variety of large publishers, to ghostwriting, screenwriting and now as an indie author. <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Key-West-Luck-Audiobook/B01I464UXE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a>Larry’s most recent book, <a href="http://amzn.to/2bARcfY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">KEY WEST LUCK</a>, is his first indie book to be turned into an <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Key-West-Luck-Audiobook/B01I464UXE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">audiobook</a>. We discuss the reasons why he decided to publish an audio version of the book. Larry felt like the time commitment for the audio project was reasonable. We discuss the process he went through to select his narrator, <a href="http://www.jemmatzan.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jem Matson</a>, who he views as a partner in the audiobook production process. We consider the two choices for paying an audiobook producer. Larry chose the Royalty Share option for KEY WEST LUCK and explains why. Like many authors who come from the traditional world, there were psychological hurdles to overcome before fully embracing indie publishing. Larry shares his thoughts on overcoming those barriers. Running his indie publishing business is much different than his experience in the traditional world. He explains some of those differences and how he’s learned to appreciate the control he now has over his creative work. <a href="http://amzn.to/2bJMTlU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a>We discuss Larry’s expectations for relaunching his Key West series with <a href="http://amzn.to/2bJMTlU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SHOT ON LOCATION</a>, his first indie published book in 2013. Larry acquired the rights back to the first eight books in his series. He tells us how he regained those rights and what he needed to learn to republish them on his own. Larry publishes exclusively on Amazon now. He explains his reasons for making that decision. We consider the importance of learning indie publishing skills even if you’re traditionally published now. Larry answers the oft-asked question about ghostwriting. “What’s it like to know that you’ve written a wildly popular bestselling book and not be able to tell anyone that you were the one who wrote it? <h3>Links:</h3> Laurence Shames website <a href="http://www.laurenceshames.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.laurenceshames.com</a> Larry’s <a href="http://amzn.to/2bJMDTM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a> KEY WEST LUCK at <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Key-West-Luck-Audiobook/B01I464UXE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Audible.Com</a> Larry’s Narrator / Audiobook Producer Jem Matzan <a href="http://www.jemmatzan.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.jemmatzan.com</a> <h3>Thanks for Listening!</h3> Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see on the left of the post. Also, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-author-biz/id893213680" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">please leave an honest review for The Author Biz Podcast on iTunes</a>! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and mean a great deal to me. They matter in the rankings of the show, and I read every one of them. If you’re not sure how to leave an iTunes review, you can follow the step-by-step instructions <a href="http://theauthorbiz.com/how-to-leave-a-podcast-review-at-itunes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-author-biz/id893213680" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a> or <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-author-biz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a> to get automatic updates. Thanks to Laurence Shames for joining us this week! Creative Commons Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/en/southermost-point-key-west-cuba-885576/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FitzFox</a> The post <a href="http://theauthorbiz.com/how-to-eliminate-audiobook-anxiety-with-laurence-shames/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TAB088: How to Eliminate Audiobook Anxiety with Laurence Shames</a> appeared first on <a href="http://theauthorbiz.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a>.

TAB088: How to Eliminate Audiobook Anxiety with Laurence Shames

It’s a treat for me to have New York Times bestselling author Laurence Shames as our guest in this episode of CrimeFiction.FM to discuss his new book, the eleventh in his wildly entertaining Key West Capers series,  KEY WEST LUCK. We also spend time chatting about some of the other books in the series and wrap up by attempting to clear up the mystery of Larry’s dozen year “ghost” period. I’ve been a fan of this funny, character driven quasi-series since the mid-1990s. It’s not a series in the traditional sense of a mystery series, but there are returning characters and a setting that readers are anxious to revisit to as each new book is released. Notes from the Laurence Shames Interview  We discuss the Key West Caper series from Laurence Shames, which began with FLORIDA STRAITS in 1992. We consider the elements that make these books a series that readers can enjoy in any order they please. Larry lived in Key West during the 1990s and uses a “romanticized, funkified” version of his days in Key West as the setting for the series. We discuss the importance of characters in the books of Laurence Shames and he shares the story of the two leads in KEY WEST LUCK. The series had a decade-plus hiatus that ended in 2013 with the publication of SHOT ON LOCATION, the 9th book in the series. Larry explains why and what brought him back to the series.  From the Publisher: Sometimes small dreams are the ones most worth fighting for… Phoebe has a dream—a very modest dream. She wants to own a Sno-Cone truck at the beach in Key West. Nicky, her would-be boyfriend, also dreams small. All he wants is a decent gig as a guitar player in a bar. Doesn’t seem like too much to ask of life, does it? So why do things keep going so dreadfully wrong for Phoebe and Nicky? Is it just plain bad luck? Or is it the decidedly bad intentions of a sleazy local cheat, a Miami gangster desperate to stay in business, and a murderous Cuban smuggler looking for a fall guy? Against these enemies, and with only a pair of mangrove-dwelling philosophers and an ancient Mafioso as allies, Phoebe and Nicky will need more than a major shift in fortune to keep their hopes, and themselves, alive. They’ll need a kind of smarts and courage they never knew they had. Lush with Florida atmosphere, deftly balancing suspense and comedy, romance and mayhem, KEY WEST LUCK will leave you cheering for the exploits of its unlikely heroes. Links Purchase KEY WEST LUCK at Amazon Author’s Website www.laurenceshames.com Please note that Amazon links are affiliate links. You’ll pay the same price for anything you order, but CrimeFiction.FM will earn a small commission. The post Laurence Shames Takes Us to Key West for Sno-Cones appeared first on CrimeFiction.FM.

<a href="http://amzn.to/1PpDAP9" rel="attachment wp-att-1814 nofollow" target="_blank"></a>It’s a treat for me to have New York Times bestselling author Laurence Shames as our guest in this episode of <a href="http://CrimeFiction.FM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CrimeFiction.FM</a> to discuss his new book, the eleventh in his wildly entertaining Key West Capers series,  <a href="http://amzn.to/1PpDAP9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">KEY WEST LUCK</a>. We also spend time chatting about some of the other books in the series and wrap up by attempting to clear up the mystery of Larry’s dozen year “ghost” period. I’ve been a fan of this funny, character driven quasi-series since the mid-1990s. It’s not a series in the traditional sense of a mystery series, but there are returning characters and a setting that readers are anxious to revisit to as each new book is released. <h3>Notes from the Laurence Shames Interview</h3> <ul> <li><a href="http://amzn.to/1UMOtP7" rel="attachment wp-att-1821 nofollow" target="_blank"></a>We discuss the Key West Caper series from Laurence Shames, which began with <a href="http://amzn.to/1UMOtP7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FLORIDA STRAITS</a> in 1992.</li> <li>We consider the elements that make these books a series that readers can enjoy in any order they please.</li> <li>Larry lived in Key West during the 1990s and uses a “romanticized, funkified” version of his days in Key West as the setting for the series.</li> <li>We discuss the importance of characters in the books of Laurence Shames and he shares the story of the two leads in KEY WEST LUCK.</li> <li>The series had a decade-plus hiatus that ended in 2013 with the publication of <a href="http://amzn.to/1RANYtM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SHOT ON LOCATION</a>, the 9th book in the series. Larry explains why and what brought him back to the series.</li> </ul> <h3>From the Publisher:</h3> Sometimes small dreams are the ones most worth fighting for… Phoebe has a dream—a very modest dream. She wants to own a Sno-Cone truck at the beach in Key West. Nicky, her would-be boyfriend, also dreams small. All he wants is a decent gig as a guitar player in a bar. Doesn’t seem like too much to ask of life, does it? So why do things keep going so dreadfully wrong for Phoebe and Nicky? Is it just plain bad luck? Or is it the decidedly bad intentions of a sleazy local cheat, a Miami gangster desperate to stay in business, and a murderous Cuban smuggler looking for a fall guy? Against these enemies, and with only a pair of mangrove-dwelling philosophers and an ancient Mafioso as allies, Phoebe and Nicky will need more than a major shift in fortune to keep their hopes, and themselves, alive. They’ll need a kind of smarts and courage they never knew they had. Lush with Florida atmosphere, deftly balancing suspense and comedy, romance and mayhem, KEY WEST LUCK will leave you cheering for the exploits of its unlikely heroes. <h3>Links</h3> Purchase KEY WEST LUCK at <a href="http://amzn.to/1PpDAP9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a> Author’s Website <a href="http://www.laurenceshames.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.laurenceshames.com</a> Please note that Amazon links are affiliate links. You’ll pay the same price for anything you order, but <a href="http://CrimeFiction.FM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CrimeFiction.FM</a> will earn a small commission. The post <a href="http://crimefiction.fm/laurence-shames-takes-us-to-key-west-for-snow-cones/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Laurence Shames Takes Us to Key West for Sno-Cones</a> appeared first on <a href="http://crimefiction.fm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CrimeFiction.FM</a>.

Laurence Shames Takes Us to Key West for Sno-Cones